Food Remedies | Page 7

running sores.
Cabbage.
All the varieties of the colewort tribe, including cabbage, cauliflower,
brussels-sprouts, broccoli, and curly greens, have been celebrated from
very ancient times for their curative virtues in pulmonary complaints.
And Athenian doctors prescribed cabbage for nursing mothers. On
account of the sulphur contained in them cabbages are good for
rheumatic patients. They may be eaten steamed, or, better still, boiled
in soft water and the broth only taken. The ordinary boiled cabbage is
an indigestible "windy" vegetable, and should never be eaten.
Caraway Seed.
Caraway seeds sharpen the vision, promote the secretion of milk, and
are good against hysterical affections. They are also useful in cases of
colic. When used to flavour cakes the seeds should be pounded in a
mortar, especially if children are to partake thereof.
When used medicinally 20 grains of the powdered seeds may be taken
in a wineglassful of hot water. But for children half an ounce of the
bruised seeds are to be infused in cold water for six hours, and from 1
to 3 teaspoonfuls of this water given.
A poultice of crushed caraway seeds moistened with hot water is good

for sprains.
Caraway seeds are narcotic, and should therefore be used with caution.
Carrot.
Carrots are strongly antiseptic. They are said to be mentally
invigorating and nerve restoring. They have the reputation of being
very indigestible on account of the fact that they are generally boiled,
not steamed. When used medicinally it is best to take the fresh, raw
juice. This is easily obtained by grating the carrot finely on a common
penny bread grater, and straining and pressing the pulp thus obtained.
Raw carrot juice, or a raw carrot eaten fasting, will expel worms. The
cooked carrot is useless for this purpose.
A poultice of fresh carrot pulp will heal ulcers.
Fresh carrot juice is also good for consumptives on account of the large
amount of sugar it contains.
Carrots are very good for gouty subjects and for derangements of the
liver.
Celery.
Celery is almost a specific for rheumatism, gout, and nervous
indigestion. The most useful plants for this purpose are small, not too
rapidly grown nor very highly manured.
It may be eaten raw, or steamed, or in soup. Strong celery broth
flavoured with parsley is excellent.
Cresses.
All the cresses are anti-scorbutic, that is, useful against the scurvy. The
ancient Greeks also believed them to be good for the brain.
The ordinary "mustard and cress" of our salads is good for rheumatic

patients, while the water-cress is valuable in cases of tubercular disease.
Anæmic patients may also eat freely of it on account of the iron it
contains. Care should be taken, however, from whence it is procured, as
a disease peculiar to sheep but communicable to man may be carried by
it. It should not be gathered from streams running through meadows
inhabited by sheep.
Chestnut.
Chestnuts, when cooked, are valuable food for persons with weak
digestive powers. They should be put on the fire in a saucepan of cold
water and cooked for twenty minutes from the time the water first boils.
John Evelyn, F.R.S., a seventeenth century writer, says of them: "They
are a lusty and masculine food for rustics at all times, and of better
nourishment for husbandmen than cole and rusty bacon, yea, or beans
to boot."
Cinnamon.
Cinnamon is a very old-fashioned remedy for soothing the pain of
internal or unbroken cancer. One prescription is the following: Take 1
lb. of Ceylon sticks. Simmer in a closed vessel with 1 quart of water
until the liquid is reduced to 1 pint. Pour off without straining, and
shake or stir well before taking. Take half a pint every twenty-four
hours. Divide into small doses and take regularly.
Cinnamon has a powerful influence over disease germs, but care must
be taken to obtain it pure. It is often adulterated with cassia.
Cinnamon tea may be taken with advantage in cases of consumption,
influenza, and pneumonia.
Cocoanut.
Cocoanut is an old and very efficacious remedy for intestinal worms of
all kinds. A tablespoonful of freshly-ground cocoanut should be taken
at breakfast until the cure is complete. The dessicated cocoanut is
useless for curative purposes.

Coffee.
Coffee is a most powerful antiseptic, and therefore very useful as a
disinfectant. It has been used as a specific against cholera with
marvellous results, and is useful in all cases of intestinal derangement.
But only the pale-roasted varieties should be taken, as the roasting
develops the poisonous, irritating properties. There is always danger in
the roasting of grains or berries on account of the new substances that
may be developed.
I do not recommend coffee as a beverage, but as a medicine.
Date.
The nourishing properties of dates are well known. They are easily
digested, and for this reason